Newspaper-file



(No Model.) -T. LOMAS.

NEWSPAPER FILE.

Y 7 AW y w WWM w T w A v m f M o A F m/ M 2 F a1 W d LBW I u w K N. PETERS. PhnlvLllhognph N'ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS LOMAS, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

, N EWSPAPER-Fl LE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 402,024, dated April 23, 1889.

Application filed January 14, 1889- Serial No. 296,231- (No model.)

To all whom it 72mg concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS LOMAS, of

Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Newspaper-Files; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1, a side view of the file complete; Fig. 2, a transverse section of the same, cutting through the tube; Fig. 3, a perspective view of the tube detached; Fig. 4, a perspective View of the rod detached; Fig. 5, the rod as introduced into the fold of a paper preparatory to its introduction to the. tube, enlarged; Fig. 6, the rodand folded paper as introduced into the tube, enlarged; Fig. 7, a transverse section showing several tubes combined.

This invention relates to an improvement in devices such as employed to serve as a temporary binder for newspapers and like purposes, so that the papers may be conveniently held for reading, or the parts retained in their proper relation to each other, commonly called newspaper-files, the object of the invention being to construct such a file or temporary binder small, light, and cheap, but which will securely hold the paper or papers which may be attached thereto; and it consists, principally, in a metal tube having a longitudinal slot open at one or both ends of the tube, combined with a rod of less diameter than the internal diameter of the tube, but larger than the Width of the longitudinal slot through the tube, and as more fully hereinafter described.

The tube A of the holder is made from sheet metal rolled into tubular form, but so that the edges do not quite meet, leaving a longitudinal slot, a, preferably extending from end to end. At the ends thesides of the slot diverge, so as to produce an open mouth, as at I). (See Fig. 3:)

B, Fig. 4, represents the rod, preferably made from wire, and is of a diameter considerably less than the internal diameter of the tube A, but larger in diameter than the width of the slot at. Preferably a handle, C, is made fast to one end, so that the file may be conveniently held in the hand, and, preferably, a cap in the form of a tip,D,is applied to the opposite end of the tube,but so as to be readily removed therefrom. This completes the file, and as seen in Fig. 1. To introduce a paper to the file, the cap D is removed, the rod B withdraw-n from the tube and the rod introduced into the fold of the paper E, as seen in Fig. 5. Then the rod with the folded edge of the paper is introduced through the end of the tube, the leaves of the paper passing into the slot a, while the rod and the fold enter the tube, as seen in Fig. 6, and until the fold of the paper is completely inclosed within the tube. the rod and the rod of larger diameter than the slot a, it necessarily follows that the fold or folds of the sheets or leaves are held within the tube, the tube forming a binder for the folded edge of the sheet. The tube being stiff serves to hold the papers in a convenient position for reading, and substantially as other constructions of paper-files. The handle C extends below the papers introduced into the tube and serves as a convenience in holding the papers. After the papers have been introduced the cap D is applied to the end of the tube and serves as a finish for the tip, and fitting closely upon the tip prevents the escape of the papers or rod from the tube.

In some cases several of the tubes A may be combined in one structure, as seen in Fig.

7, each tube forming an independent binder for papers. The open mouth 1) of the tube facilitates the introduction of the rod and papers to the tube and prevents the edges of the slot from tearing the papers, which they would be liable to do if the edges terminated in a right angle.

The tube may be made from thin metal, small in diameter, so as to make an extremely neat, light, and durable file.

I claim 1. The herein-described newspaper-file, consisting of a metal tube constructed with a 1ongitudinal slot less in width than the internal diameter of the tube, combined with a rod of less diameter than the internal diameter of the tube, but greater in diameter than the width of the slot of the tube, substantially as de- The fold of the paper being around scribed, the said rod being adapted to be placed in the fold of papers and with that folded portion of the papers introduced into the tube, the leaves of the paper extending through the slot, substantially as described.

2. The tube A, made from sheet metal, the edges of the metal brought near together so as to form a longitudinal slot, a, in the tube, the edges of the slot diverging at the end, so as to form a flaring month, I), combined with a rod, B, less in diameter than the internal diameter of the tube A, but larger in diameter than the width of the slot a, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the tube A, constructed with a longitudinal slot, a, one end fixed in a handle, 0, the slot a, open at the op- THOMAS LOMAS.

Witnesses:

JOHN E. EARLE, FRED C. EARLE. 

